A file of letters written during the year 1955 relating to the Chikuni Mission, Northern Rhodesia.

Includes a letter from Fr Robert Thompson SJ, PO Box 125, Lusaka to Irish Fr Provincial Michael O'Grady SJ concerning the Teacher Training College. Remarks that the establishment of a new Training College was formally passed in principle and that a decision on the proposed site at Monze-Lubwe will be made shortly (5 January 1955, 2pp).

Includes a newspaper cutting reporting on the appointment of Fr Adam Kozlowiecki SJ as Bishop-Elect of the Lusaka Vicariate (22 August 1955, 1p).

Includes a copy of the minutes of a consultation held at Chikuni Mission. The first item relates to the partition of goods between the Vicariate Apostolic of Lusaka and the Society of Jesus (15 & 16 September 1955, 6pp).

Letter from Fr Willie Doyle SJ to his Aunt Jane. Refers to his ordination, and to his departure for Belgium the following day to complete his education in Belgium, and states that he may have a chance of going to Australia in the future. Also refers to his parents’ Jubilee celebrations.

File of holograph letters and typewritten letters by Fr Willie Doyle SJ concerning his ordination at Milltown Park (28 July 1907); tertianship at L’ Ancienne Abbaye, Tronchiennes, Belgium to his mother and father, his sister Mai and brother Charles (October 1907 - 21 July 1908); attending a mission in Great Yarmouth (20 April 1908); work as a minister at Belvedere College to his sister Mai (April - July 1909); at the Convent of St John of God, Wexford to his sister Mai (2 August 1910); at Enghien, Belgium to his father (2 - 14 October 1912); while giving missions in Clare, Cork, Limerick and Dublin and working at Rathfarnham Castle, to his father and sister Mai (20 March 1914 - 6 November 1915).

Holograph letters by Fr Willie Doyle SJ from his time with the 8th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, 49th Brigade, 16th Division and the 8th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusilier’s: at Whitely Camp, Surrey; Bordon Camp, Hampshire; various locations in France. In the main, the letters are addressed to his father, but also his sister Mai. The letters document his time as a military chaplain, firstly at camp in England while preparing for embarkation and secondly, at the front in France. Some of the letters have been transcribed by Professor Alfred O’ Rahilly in his book - Father William Doyle SJ. (1922) http://www.archive.org/details/fatherwilliamdoy00orahuoftWith envelopes and four undated parts of letters.

Includes notebooks written by Fr Willie Doyle SJ at the front (31 March 1916 - August 1917) with the following titles: ‘Bully Beef’ (20 - 29 December 1916); ‘Pork and Beans’ (16 January - 5 February 1917); ‘Bits and scraps for an old man’s breakfast’ (July 1917)’; ‘The Battle of Ypres’ (9 July - August 1917). Includes opening entry - ‘My dear Father, When I posted my letter to you this morning it occurred to me that perhaps if I kept a kind of diary for the next couple of weeks it might interest you and others, even if I had nothing of very great interest to relate (31 March 1916).

Holograph letters and typewritten letters by Mr Willie Doyle SJ while: at Clongowes Wood College to his mother and father, and sister Lena (6 April 1897 - 1898); undertaking philosophy at Enghien, Belgium to his mother and father (2 October 1898 - 3 June 1899); at St. Mary’s Hall, Stonyhurst College, England to his mother and father (14 October 1900 - 31 March 1901); at Clongowes Wood College to his mother and father, and sister Mai (18 December 1901 - 5 August 1903); undertaking theology at Milltown Park (23 December 1904 - Easter 1906).

Photographs and postcards sent to Prof. Alfred O’Rahilly by the Imperial War Museum, London, England, for use in his book on Fr Willie Doyle SJ. Includes a note ‘Don’t mix these with the others. Return these to me. These are photos which I bought but decided not to use.’ All photographs are dated and described on back. Photos are mostly of the ruins of Ypres, Guillemont, Loos etc. Sizes: 21 1/2cm x 16 1/2cm; 14cm x 9cm and 27 1/2cm x 9cm.

File of photographs of First World War scenes (Military convoy, 30 July 1916 and the Menin Road), Rathfarnham Castle and Dalkey. Includes copies of images of St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly and Kemmel Hill and Zonnebeke, Belgium and small handwritten sketch maps of Ypres (11 February 1935).

Postcards and photographs of ‘views in France and Belgium’. Includes photographs of Kemmel Chateau and the Convent at Locre, Belgium and General Hickie and aide-de-camp Captain O’Connell at St Omer, 16 July 1917; carte postale of Sr Antonius, Locre, Belgium, with inscription by Fr Charles Doyle SJ on reverse, indicating the room of Fr Doyle and church of Noeux les Mines, France.